[Gastric carcinoma in patients under 35 years]

To address the frequency, type of clinical presentation, treatment modalities and survival of gastric carcinoma in young Mexicans.

Hospital de Especialidades, Centro Medico Nacional Siglo XXI, IMSS, Mexico City.

A retrospective review of all charts of patients 35 years old or younger, with a diagnosis of gastric carcinoma treated at the department of surgery, from July 1986 to January 1990 was performed. Follow up was conducted at the surgery clinic until death or up to January 1998.

Eleven patients under 35 years of age were identified, they represent 13.7% of 80 patients treated during that time period. Women were affected more frequently (1.7:1). Ten patients presented with advanced disease, and only one patient had Stage II. Five gastric resections were performed, one patient had a bypass only, three underwent surgical explorations and two were not operated. Ten had diffuse type lesions and only one intestinal adenocarcinoma. Median survival was 15.3 months and only one patient is alive and well.

In our series, gastric carcinoma is frequent, it is diagnosed in advanced stages, and this is the reason for a very poor prognosis.